It is the most common question we get, and the answer is more precise than most people expect. A pendant over a dining table hung at the right height makes the table feel like the heart of the room. Hung too high it floats awkwardly; too low and it blocks the view across the table. Here is how to get it right.
The rule of thumb
The bottom of the pendant should sit roughly 75 to 90 cm above the table top. With a standard 75 cm high table and a 2.4 m ceiling, that puts the bottom of the shade at around 1.5 to 1.65 m from the floor. Sit down at the table and you should see the faces of the people opposite clearly beneath the light, but the pendant should still feel like it belongs to the table rather than the ceiling.
Adjust for ceiling height
For every extra 30 cm of ceiling height above 2.4 m, raise the pendant by roughly 8 cm. In a double-height dining space you may want to go considerably higher, or choose a longer fixture, such as a cascade or a tiered chandelier, that fills the vertical space.
Adjust for the fixture
Large, dense fixtures can hang a little higher; delicate, open designs can hang a little lower without blocking sightlines. Linear pendants over long tables should be hung so the bar is parallel to the table and about 75 to 85 cm above it. A cluster of several small pendants can be staggered, with the lowest around 70 cm above the table.
Size matters as much as height
A pendant should be roughly a half to two-thirds the width of the table, or in the case of a round table, about half its diameter. For a long table, a linear pendant or a row of two or three smaller pendants works better than one large one. Leave at least 15 cm between the edge of the fixture and the edge of the table so nobody knocks it while standing up.
Cord length and adjustability
Many of our pendants and chandeliers can be ordered with a specific cord or chain length, and most come with some adjustment. If you are unsure, order a slightly longer cord than you think you need. A cord can be shortened; it cannot be lengthened.
Light quality over the table
Choose warm white, 2700K to 3000K, and make it dimmable. Dinner is better under low light, and a dimmer lets the same pendant serve homework at four o'clock and a long meal at eight. Shades that are open at the bottom throw light onto the table; shades that are open at the top give a softer, bounced glow.
A quick checklist
- Bottom of the pendant 75–90 cm above the table.
- Width about half to two-thirds of the table.
- Centre the fixture over the table, not the room.
- Warm white and dimmable.
Measure twice, hang once, and have someone sit at the table while you check the height before the electrician tightens anything.